"The eulogists of Paine in attempting to establish his claims on the bounty of Congress, forget to remember that the same person who was paid like Callendar for his writing (only more liberally) had been disgraced by Congress in '77, and dismissed from the office of secretary to the committe [sic] for foreign affairs, for drunkenness and falsehood. They draw a veil over his transactions while in Paris, and particularly over his hostile measures against this country in the war which he strove to imbitter between the two nations. This alone, independent of the renumerations of Congress, did away, they well know, all the claims upon the gratitude of Americans for his Common Sense, and his Crisis -- But his Age of Reason and his Infamous letter to Washington, setting aside his machinations against this country, will ultimately in the mind of every man, except possibly Mr. Jefferson, put him upon a par with the once gallant but traitorous Arnold."

Thomas Paine set the stage for much of what constitutes Skeptical arguments today. But it is less known that many wrote rebuttals to him in his own day, which are archived here. Responses to The Age of Reason came from many of Paine's contemporaries, including Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Rush, John Jay and Elias Boudinot.

Adams, President John

(1735-1826)

American President. Read more about President Adams here. Disclaimer: Adams shifted from Congregationalist to Unitarian.

Comments on Paine: "The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity, let the Blackguard [scoundrel, rogue] Paine say what he will." John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Charles Francis Adams, editor. Boston: Charles Little and James Brown, 1841, Vol. III, p. 421, diary entry for July 26, 1796.

John Adams autobiography, part 1, "John Adams," through 1776, sheet 23 of 53, January - April 1776.
In the Course of this Winter appeared a Phenomenon in Philadelphia a Disastrous Meteor, I mean Thomas Paine. He came from England, and got into such company as would converse with him, and ran about picking up what Information he could, concerning our Affairs, and finding the great Question was concerning Independence, he gleaned from those he saw the common place Arguments concerning Independence: such as the Necessity of Independence, at some time or other, the peculiar fitness at this time: the justice of it: the Provocation to it: the necessity of it: our Ability to maintain it &c. &c. Dr. Rush put him upon Writing on the Subject, furnished him with the Arguments which had been urged in Congress an hundred times, and gave him his title of common Sense. In the latter part of Winter, or the early in the Spring he came out, with his Pamphlet. The Arguments in favour of Independence I liked very well: but one third of the Book was filled with Arguments from the old Testiment, to prove the Unlawfulness of Monarchy, and another Third, in planning a form of Government, for the seperate States in One Assembly, and for the United States, in a Congress.

His Arguments from the old Testiment, were ridiculous, but whether they proceeded from honest Ignorance, and or foolish [Superstition] on one hand, or from willfull Sophistry and knavish Hypocricy on the other I know not. The other third part relative to a form of Government I considered as flowing from simple Ignorance, and a mere desire to please the democratic Party in Philadelphia, at whose head were Mr. Matlock, Mr. Cannon and Dr. Young. I regretted however, to see so foolish a plan recommended to the People of the United States, who were all waiting only for the Countenance of Congress, to institute their State Governments. I dreaded the Effect so popular a pamphlet might have, among the People, and determined to do all in my Power, to counter Act the Effect of it. My continued Occupations in Congress, allowed me no time to write any thing of any Length: but I found moments to write a small pamphlet which Mr. Richard Henry Lee, to whom I shewed it, liked it so well that he insisted on my permitting him to publish it: He accordingly got Mr. Dunlap to print it, under the Tittle of Thoughts on Government in a Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend. Common Sense was published without a Name: and I thought it best to suppress my name too: but as common Sense when it first appeared was generally by the public ascribed to me or Mr. Samuel Adams, I soon regretted that my name did not appear. Afterward I had a new Edition of it printed with my name and the name of Mr. Wythe of Virginia to whom the Letter was at first intended to have been addressed. The Gentlemen of New York availed themselves of the Ideas in this Morsell in the formation of the Constitution of that State. And Mr. Lee sent it to the Convention of Virginia when they met to form their Government and it went to North Carolina, New Jersey and other States. Matlock, Cannon, Young and Paine had influence enough however, to get their plan adopted in substance in Georgia and Vermont as well as Pennsilvania. These three States have since found them, such Systems of Anarchy, if that Expression is not a contradiction in terms, that they have altered them and made them more conformable to my plan.

Paine soon after the Appearance of my Pamphlet hurried away to my Lodgings and spent an Evening with me. His Business was to reprehend me for publishing my Pamphlet. Said he was afraid it would do hurt, and that it was repugnant to the plan he had proposed in his Common Sense. I told him it was true it was repugnant and for that reason, I had written it and I had consented to the publication of it: for I was as much afraid of his Work [as] he was of mine. His plan was so democratical, without any restraint or even an Attempt at any Equilibrium or Counterpoise, that it must produce confusion and every Evil Work. I told him further, that his Reasoning from the Old Testament was ridiculous, and I could hardly think him sincere. At this he laughed, and said he had taken his Ideas in that part from Milton: and then expressed a Contempt of the Old Testament and indeed of the Bible at large, which surprized me. He saw that I did not relish this, and soon check'd himself, with these Words "However I have some thoughts of publishing my Thoughts on Religion, but I believe it will be best to postpone it, to the latter part of Life." This Conversation passed in good humour, without any harshness on either Side: but I perceived in him a conceit of himself, and a daring Impudence, which have been developed more and more to this day.

The third part of Common Sense which relates wholly to the Question of Independence, was clearly written and contained a tollerable Summary of the Arguments which I had been repeating again and again in Congress for nine months. But I am bold to say there is not a Fact nor a Reason stated in it, which had not been frequently urged in Congress. The Temper and Wishes of the People, supplied every thing at that time: and the Phrases, suitable for an Emigrant from New Gate, or who one who had chiefly associated with such Company, such as "The Royal Brute of England," "The Blood upon his Soul," and a few others of equal delicacy, had as much Weight with the People as his Arguments. It has been a general Opinion, that this Pamphlet was of great Importance in the Revolution. I doubted it at the time and have doubted it to this day. It probably converted some to the Doctrine of Independence, and gave others an Excuse for declaring in favour of it. But these would all have followed Congress, with Zeal: and on the other hand it excited many Writers against it, particularly plain Truth, who contributed very largely to fortify and inflame the Party against Independence, and finally lost us the Allens, Penns, and many other Persons of Weight in the Community.

Notwithstanding these doubts I felt myself obliged to Paine for the Pains he had taken and for his good Intentions to serve Us which I then had no doubt of. I say saw he had a capacity and a ready Pen, and understanding he was poor and destitute, I thought We might put him into some Employment, where he might be usefull and earn a Living. Congress appointed a Committee of foreign affairs not long after and they wanted a Clerk. I nominated Thomas Paine, supposing him a ready Writer and an industrious Man. Dr. Witherspoon the President of New Jersey Colledge and then a Delegate from that State rose and objected to it, with an Earnestness that surprized me. The Dr. said he would give his reasons; he knew the Man and his Communications: When he first came over, he was on the other Side and had written pieces against the American Cause: that he had afterwards been employed by his Friend Robert Aitkin, and finding the Tide of Popularity run pretty strong rapidly, he had turned about: that he was very intemperate and could not write untill he had quickened his Thoughts with large draughts of Rum and Water: that he was in short a bad Character and not fit to be placed in such a Situation. -- General Roberdeau spoke in his favour: no one confirmed Witherspoons Account, though the truth of it has since been sufficiently established. Congress appointed him: but he was soon obnoxious by his Manners, and dismissed.

There was one Circumstance, in his conversation with me about the pamphlets, which I could not Account for. He was extreamly earnest to convince me, that Common Sense was his first born: declared again and again that he had never written a Line nor a Word that had been printed before Common Sense. I cared nothing for this but said nothing: but Dr. Witherspoons Account of his Writing against Us, brought doubts into my mind of his Veracity, which the subsequent histories of his Writings and publications in England when he was in the Custom house, did not remove.

At this day it would be ridiculous to ask any questions about Tom Paine's Veracity, Integrity or any other Virtue.

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 December 1796.
I shewed the Letters of Mr. J. Q. A. to the President who told me that Things appeared to him exactly as they did to his Minister. To Day he has Sent me a Letter to him from Mr. T. Paine dated at Paris 20 of September 1795 which he said was the most insulting Letter he ever received.

Paine accuses the President of Connivance at his Imprisonment in France, thinks he ought to have interposed in his behalf and reclaim'd him.

"I ought not to have Suspected you of Treachery, but I must continue to think you treacherous, till you give me cause to think otherwise. I am Sure you would have found yourself more at your Ease, if you had acted by me as you ought, for whether your Desertion of me was intended to gratify the English Government, or to let me fall into Destruction in France, that you might exclaim the louder against the French Revolution, or whether you hoped by my Extinction to meet with less opposition in mounting up the American Government, either of these will involve you in Reproach you will not easily shake off." These are his Words.

I am told that Mr. Pride of Virginia who had the Duel with Mr. Carpenter in England went over to France and has return'd to America and brought Packetts and Letters for Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Madison, Mr. Giles and Mr. Bache, as well as for the Sec. of State.

Mr. Paines long threatned Pamphlet against the President it is supposed is Arrived and Mr. Bache is to publish it in the form of a Letter to George Washington. It is even Said that a Patent is to be obtained for the exclusive Priviledge of publishing it.

I think, of all Paines Productions it is the weakest and at the same time the most malicious. The Man appears to me to be mad -- not drunk. He has the Vanity of the Lunatick who believed himself [illegible] to be Jupiter the Father of Gods and Men.

Adams, President John Quincy

(1767-1848)

Sixth American President. See here for discussion about Adams's faith.
Read more about President Adams here, here and here.

An Answer to Pain's Rights of Man. London: H.D. Symons, 1793. 34 pp.; 22 cm. A series of letters originally published in the Columbian centinel, June-July 1791, under the pseudonym of "Publicola", and at the time commonly ascribed to John Adams, vice president of the United States, although the last letter states explicitly that he had nothing to do with the authorship or publication. The letters were in reality the work of his son, then a young lawyer in Boston. cf. Works of John Adams, 1850-56, v. 1, p. 454, and v. 8, p. 507./

Samuel Adams wrote Paine a stiff rebuke, telling him, "[W]hen I heard you had turned your mind to a defence of infidelity, I felt myself much astonished and more grieved that you had attempted a measure so injurious to the feelings and so repugnant to the true interest of so great a part of the citizens of the United States." William V. Wells, The Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1865, Vol. III, pp. 372-373, to Thomas Paine on November 30, 1802.

Review of Age of Reason. Connecticut Courant, August 18, 1794, Column A.

Analytical Review

(1788-1799)

Analytical Review, or History of literature, domestic and foreign, on an enlarged plan. London, England: Printed for J. Johnson. "Containing scientific abstracts of important and interesting works, published in English; a general account of such as are of less consequence, with short characters, notices, or reviews of valuable foreign books; criticisms on new pieces of music and works of art; and the literary intelligence of Europe, etc." v. 1-28, May 1788-Dec. 1798; new series, v. 1, Jan-June 1799; 29 v. 22 cm. New series v. 1 has imprint: London, Printed for the editor, and sold by T. Hurst.

Reviews. Analytical Review, v. 19, 1794. Reviews of The Age of Reason, being an Investigationof True and Fabulous Theology, pp. 159-165; An Examination of the Age of Reason, pp. 165-170; The Age of Infidelity: in Answer to Thomas Paine's Age of Reason, pp. 312-314; Sermons on Some of the Principal Doctrines of the Christian Religion, with Practical Inferences and Improvements, pp. 314-315; Reason and revelation: or a Brief Answer to Thomas Paine's late Work, Entitled "The Age of Reason", p. 478.

Reviews. Analytical Review, v. 20, 1794. Reviews of William Paley's A View of the Evidences of Christianity in Three Parts, pp. 28-39; Paine's Age of Reason Measured by the Standard of Truth. Wakefield's Examination of, and a Layman's Answer to, the Age of Reason, both Weighed in the Balance, and Found Wanting, by Michael Nash, pp. 202-203; Christianity the Only True Theology; or, an Answer to Mr. Paine's Age of Reason, pp. 285-287; Age du Défordre pris pour celui de la Raison par Mr. Paine, &c., pp. 287-288; Sermons on Several Subjects by Beilby Porteus, pp. 288-293; Dogmatism Exposed, and Sophistry Detected: or, a Confutation of Paine's 'Age of Reason.' To which is Prefixed, a Brief Account of the Replies Already Published, by Daniel M'Neille, pp. 401-402; Deism Disarmed; or a Short Answer to Paine's 'Age of Reason,' on Principles Self-Evident, But Seldom Produced, pp. 402-403.

Anketell, John

(b. 1750?)

Strictures upon Paine's Age of Reason into which are incorporated a few observations upon a Belfast edition of remarks upon Paine's pamphlet, By the Rev. John Anketell. Dublin: printed for the author, by William Porter, 1796. vi, xxiii, [1], 193, [1] pp.

The Integrity and excellence of Scripture: A Vindication of the much-controverted passages, Deut. VII. 2. 5. and--XX. 16. 17. whereby the justness of the commands they enjoin are incontrovertibly proved, and, consequently, the objections of Thomas Paine and Dr. Geddes compleatly refuted. Cambridge: Printed and sold by F. Hodson, sold also by J. Deighton [and 6 others], 1797. [4], iv, 5-81, [3] pp.; 21 cm. (8vo)

Bentley, Thomas

(fl. 1775-1819)

Reason and Revelation; or, A Brief answer to Thomas Paine's late work entitled The Age of Reason. London, 1794. 48 pp.

Review of Reason and Revelation: or A Brief Answer to Thomas Paine's late Work, Entitled "The Age of Reason", Analytical Review, v. 19, 1794, p. 478. "From the cheap form in which this pamphlet is printed, it appears intended for general circulation, as a popular reply to Mr. Paine's Age of Reason. And if familiarity and vulgarity of language were all that were necessary, this piece might answer the purpose. But it has both deficiencies and redundancies, which render it very inadequate to the design of counteracting the infection of Mr. Paine's infidelity."

Abstract: An intertextual examination of Thomas Paine's 'Letter to George Washington' clearly shows the link between his private history and public text. The 'Letter' was written after his incarceration in France, for which he blamed Washington. If his previous texts praised Washington, he attempted to re-write these in his 'Letter.' His revisions, of which he himself was aware, he justified in the name of historical truth. In the end, Paine betrayed not George Washington, but his own self aggrandizement and mythic role in the American Revolution.

Following his imprisonment, Paine spent eight more years in France until his return to America in 1802. In France, angry and resentful for America's "betrayal" of France (via the Jay Treaty) and himself, he approved of the undeclared naval war (1795-96) which resulted in the capture of hundreds of American ships having traffic with England. On 12 September 1798, Paine published an essay in Le Bien informe, the newspaper of his friend Nicolas de Bonneville. In the essay, he offered the French Directory practical advice on how to conquer America: rather than invade on land as the British had fruitlessly done in the American Revolution, proceed up the coast of America, starting with Savannah, with a fleet of gunboats - the "master blow would be to finish at Halifax" and then "move down to New Orleans, take possession of the port of Natchez, call on the friends of liberty [i.e., those Americans supporting the French Revolution and opposing the Federalists] in the backports of the United States, from Kentucky to the Southern limits of English America."(9)
9. Quoted by Hawke, 335. After his return to America, Paine never mentioned the article although the Federalist Press did. In 1807, he published another article promoting gunboats as an effective means of defense for American coasts, harbors, and ports (Writings 2:1067-72) - an ironic proposal given his 1798 proposal to invade American harbors with French gunboats.

Boudinot, Elias

(1740-1821)

The Age of Revelation; Or, The age of reason shewn to be an age of infidelity. Philadelphia: Published by Asbury Dickins, opposite Christ-church. Hugh Maxwell, printer, Columbia-house, 1801. 2 p.l., [iii]-xxiii, [25]-232 (i.e. 332) pp., 1 l. 22 cm.

The Ram's Horn sounded seven times upon lifeless hills and mountains which shall be brought down; Also remarks upon Thomas Paine's Second part of the Age of Reason. With an appendix, By John Bousell. Norwich: printed for the author, and sold by all booksellers, 1799. [2],x,40 p.

Bradford, Ebenezer

(1746-1801)

Mr. Thomas Paine's Trial; being an examination of his Age of reason. To which is added, two addresses, the first to the Deists, and the second to the youths of America: With some brief remarks on Gilbert Wakefield's Examination of said Age of reason: Dedicated to George Washington, president of the United States of America. Printed at Boston: by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews, Faust's Statue, no. 45, Newbury-Street, 1795. v, [2], 8-79, [1] pp.; 18 cm. (12mo)

The Age of Reason and Revelation; or Animadversions on Mr. Thomas Paine's late piece, intitled "The Age of reason, &c." Containing a vindication of the sacred Scriptures, from the reasoning, objections, and aspersions in that piece. Richmond: Printed by John Dixon, for an enquirer after truth, 1795. 72 pp.; 18 cm.

Broughton, Thomas

(fl. 19th century)

The Age of Christian Reason: being a refutation of the theological and political principles of Thomas Paine, M. Volney, and the whole class of political naturalists whether atheists or deists / by Thomas Broughton. London: Printed for F.C. and J. Rivington by J. Gillet, 1820. x, 266 pp.; 22cm (8vo).

Deism Disarmed; or a short answer to Paine's Age of reason, on principles self-evident, but seldom produced. London: printed for T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies (successors to Mr. Cadell), 1794. [4], iv, 40 pp.

Carroll, Charles

(1737-1832)

Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration, described Paine's work as "blasphemous writings against the Christian religion"; cf. Kate Mason Rowland, The life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 1737-1832: with his correspondence and public papers, Volume 2. G. P. Putnam's sons, 1898. Also in Joseph Gurn, Charles Carroll of Carrollton. New York: P. J. Kennedy & Sons, 1932, p. 203.

"Churchman"

(fl. 18th century)

Christianity the Only True Theology; or, an answer to Mr. Paine's Age of reason. London: printed, by Vaughan Griffiths, for F. and C. Rivington; and J. Matthews, 1795. [2],73,[1] pp.

Cobbett, William

(1763-1835)

Antidote to Paine's Poison by "P. Porcupine" (aka William Cobbett). Philadelphia: Printed by William Cobbett, 1797. [5], p. 252-327, [1], vii, [2], 10-96, [2], 80, 18 pp.; 22 cm. Contents: (from t.p.) His life / by Francis Oldys; interspersed with remarks and reflections -- An answer to his Rights of man / by H. Makenzie, Esq., of Edinborough -- An answer to his Age of reason / by R. Watson ... -- An answer to his Letter to General Washington / by Peter Porcupine. Note(s): Consists of four pamphlets, also separately issued, here issued in 1 v. "His life", the 1st pamphlet, is the Sept. 1796 issue of Porcupine's Political censor, with the caption title: Life of Thomas Paine, interspersed with remarks and reflections./ Issued in 1796 with title: An antidote for Tom Paine's theological and political poison.

Oliver Oldschool (pseudonym). Thomas Paine. The Port-Folio, v. 2, n. 48. Philadelphia [Pa.]: The Editor and Asbury Dickens. December 4, 1802, p. 382. "Paine's character in Paris is well known to have been so despicable, even among those that belonged to the same party, that his company was avoided like the presence of a person infected with the plague. He never associated but with the meanest and lowest of the scribbling tribe; indeed he was suffered to associate with no others. Frequently he was found rolling and tossing in the streets, in a state of intoxication that astonished the Parisians unused to such spectacles of human depravation; they called him the English Ourang Outang. One evening Paine was caught in this disgraceful state, and was conveyed to an exhibition of wild beasts, kept near the Palais Royal, where he was displayed during his state of intoxication, in a cage, along with a bear and a monkey, to the no small amusement of the Sans Culottes. This happened in the year 1797, when a Mr. Benjamin Sword, a respectable merchant of Glasgow, was in Paris, who was present at the spectacle."

Thomas Paine's Epistles, to the People of the United States. The Port-Folio, v. 2, Philadelphia [Pa.]: The Editor and Asbury Dickens. December 11, 1982, pp. 386-387. Article reprinted from the Examiner, n. 3. Citing Journals of Congress, v. 5, January 6, 1779.
... "That congress never has received any species of military stores, as a present, from the court of France, or from any other court or persons in Europe. That Mr. Thomas Paine, for his imprudence, ought immediately to be dismissed from his office of secretary to the committee of foreign affairs, and the said committee are directed to dismiss him accordingly, and to take such further steps relative to his misapplication of public papers, as they shall deem necessary."

Paine vs Religionor, Christianity triumphant: containing the interesting letters of Sam. Adams, Tho. Paine, and John Gemmil: to which is added, Mr. Erskine's celebrated speech at the trial of the age of reason. Baltimore [Md.]: G. Douglas, 1803. 16 pp.

Christianity vindicated: in the admirable speech of the Hon. Tho. Erskine, in the trial of J. [i.e., T.] Williams, for publishing Paine's "Age of Reason." From the twelfth London edition. Philadelphia: Printed by J. Carey, no. 83, N. Second-Street, for G. Douglas, no. 2, South Third-Street., June 24, 1797. 15, [1] pp.; (8vo) Also here.

Law Report. Court Of King's Bench, Westminster, June 24., Sittings Before Lord Kenyon And A Special Jury, The King V. Williams For Publishing Paine's Age Of Reason. From The Times, July 25, 1797, pp. 3-4.

Editorial. From The Sun, n. 1677. February 2, 1798. "Mr. Erskine's Speech on moving for Judgment against the Publisher of the Age of Reason, does infinite credit to his talents and his feelings. -- We are always happy in witnessing the professional abilities and integrity of that Gentleman."

The speeches of the Hon. Thomas Erskine, in the Court of King's Bench, June 28, 1797; before the Right Hon. Lloyd Lord Kenyon, and a special jury, on the trial the King versus Thomas Williams, for publishing The age of reason, written by Thomas Paine : together with Mr. Stewart Kyd's reply, and Lord Kenyon's charge to the jury. Philadelphia : Printed for, and sold by William Cobbett, opposite Christ Church., 1797. 24 pp.

Evidences of Revealed Religion and particularly Christianity, stated, with reference to a pamphlet called The age of reason; in a discourse delivered at the Chapel in Lewin's-Mead, Bristol, December 25, 1795. And with omissions, in ... London, January 17, 1796. By John Prior Estlin. Bristol: printed by N. Biggs, and sold by Mrs. Lloyd, Mr. Cottle, and the other booksellers in Bristol; and by Mr. Johnson, London, 1796. 57,[1] pp.

Citizen. Obituary. The Evening Post, n. 2210, June 10, 1809, p. 3. Column 4, about a third down the page. "Died, on Thursday morning, the 8th inst., THOMAS PAINE, author of the Crisis, Rights of Man, &c. Mr. Paine had a desire to be interred in the Quaker burying ground, and some days previous to his demise, had an interview with some Quaker gentlemen on the subject, but as he declined a renunciation of his deistical opinions, his anxious wishes were not complied with. He was yesterday intered at New-Rochelle, Westchester county, perhaps on his own farm. I am unacquainted with his age, but he had lived long, done some good, and much harm."

The Evening Post, November 12, 1802. New York Evening Post, n. 309 p. 3. Columns 2 and 3. The eulogists of Paine in attempting to establish his claims on the bounty of Congress, forget to remember that the same person who was paid --- Callendar for his writing (only more liberally) had been disgraced by Congress in '77, and dismissed from the office of secretary to the committe for foreign affairs, for drunkenness and falsehood. They draw a veil over his transactions while in Paris, and particularly over his hostile measures against this country in the war which he strove to imbitter between the two nations. This alone, independent of the renumerations of Congress, did away, they well know, all the claims upon the gratitude of Americans for his Common Sense, and his Crisis -- But his Age of Reason and his Infamous letter to Washington, setting aside his machinations against this country, will ultimately in the mind of every man, except possibly Mr. Jefferson, put him upon a par with the once gallant but traitorous Arnold."

Benjamin Smead or Thomas Dickman. Home. Federal Galaxy, page [3], vol. II, iss. 85, August 11, 1798.
"Our beloved country, were it not for the outrages it is suffering from foreign plunderers, would exhibit a prospect, in the contemplation of which, we might realize Ovid's description of the golden age. Religion and morality here go hand in hand. the vain and imprudent attempt of Thomas Paine to destroy our attachment to the faith of our fathers, was attended with a momentary effect upon the thoughtless, and the illiterate; but the 'Age of Reason' is already immersed in the waters of Lethe, and that venerable volume, THE BIBLE, is the object of our general belief and reverence. Thousands of worthy pastors constantly inculcate its truths from the sacred desk; and a moral and elegant LAY PREACHER, who is listened to with delight, by a numerous and attentive auditory, delivers weekly lectures of more value than the 'gold of Ophir,' or even the 'dew of hermon.' Our courts of justice are rarely employed in the conviction of even a solitary criminal. For pure morals, conjugal faigh, and all its lovely train of virtues, our country is proverbial. We are making rapid improvements in the mechanical arts, in philosophy, and evein in elegant literature."

Federal Republican & Commercial Gazette

Published in Baltimore, Maryland. The Federal Republican & Commercial Gazette (Country edition) began publication April 24, 1809 [v. 2, no. 127] and ceased in 1812[?]. It was published triweekly. It assumed the numbering of the concurrent edition. It was suspended with the June 20, 1812 issue and resumed with the July 27, 1812 issue. It was also published as the Federal Republican and Commercial Gazette. Other editions include the Federal Republican & Commercial Gazette (Baltimore: 1808). The newspaper absorbed the North American and Mercantile Daily Advertiser (Baltimore: triweekly), October 5, 1809.

"Edited by Nemo Nobody, esq." Religion. Something, v. 1, n. 7. December 30, 1809. Boston.
"The consequence of such literal translations, must be an injury to the author, and confusion to the unlearned reader; and we cannot but blieve, that confusions of this nature affected the inconsiderate mind of Mr. Thomas Paine, when he rashly entered into a contest for which he was in every respect unprepared. He may have observed passages in the scriptures, which to him were unintelligible, and judged therefrom that they could not be understood. Ignorant himself, so far of the subject on which he wrote, as not to know that the two testaments were necessary to constitute the Bible, he wrote only for the ignorant. How pitiful is the truimph over defenceless minds! the sallies of Mr. Paine may have unsettled the faith of many an honest rustic, but the doctrines of St. Paul make Felix tremble.--He is now gone--and though we elsewhere opposed him to the utmost of our ability while on earth, we hope and confidently believe he is now participating in the mediation of that Saviour, he attempted to calumniate, and pretended to despise."

Fisher, Miers

(1748-1819)

A Reply to the false reasoning in the "Age of reason." To which are added, some thoughts on idolatry; on the devil; and the origin of moral evil; on educating young men for the Gospel ministry; and on what is "the word of God." All which refer, more or less, to opinions advanced in Thomas Paine's "Investigation of true and fabulous theology." Philadelphia: Printed by Henry Tuckniss, for the author, and sold by the principal Booksellers, 1796. vi, [1], 8-40, [2] pp.; 16 cm. (12mo)

Letter to Paine on his deism, by Ben Franklin. Notes by David Barton.
DEAR SIR,
I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument it contains against a particular Providence, though you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundations of all religion. For without the belief of a Providence, that takes cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favor particular persons, there is no motive to worship a Deity, to fear his displeasure, or to pray for his protection. I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion, that, though your reasonings are subtile and may prevail with some readers, you will not succeed so as to change the general sentiments of mankind on that subject, and the consequence of printing this piece will be, a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits against the wind, spits in his own face.

But, were you to succeed, do you imagine any good would be done by it? You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous life, without the assistance afforded by religion; you having a clear perception of the advantages of virtue, and the disadvantages of vice, and possessing a strength of resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common temptations. But think how great a portion of mankind consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced, inconsiderate youth of both sexes, who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great point for its security. And perhaps you are indebted to her originally, that is, to your religious education, for the habits of virtue upon which you now justly value yourself. You might easily display your excellent talents of reasoning upon a less hazardous subject, and thereby obtain a rank with our most distinguished authors. For among us it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots, that a youth, to be raised into the company of men, should prove his manhood by beating his mother.

I would advise you, therefore, not to attempt unchaining the tiger, but to burn this piece before it is seen by any other person; whereby you will save yourself a great deal of mortification by the enemies it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of regret and repentance. If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be if without it. I intend this letter itself as a proof of my friendship, and therefore add no professions to it; but subscribe simply yours,

B. Franklin

Fraser, Donald

(1755?-1820)

A Collection of select biography: or, The Bulwark of truth being a sketch of the lives and testimonies of many eminent laymen, in different countries, who have professed their belief in, and attachment to the Christian religion --whether distinguished as statesmen, patriots, philosophers, &c.: --to which are prefixed two letters to Thomas Paine, containing some important queries and remarks relative to the probable tendency of his Age of reason. New-York: Printed for the author [by Robert M. Hurtin?], at the Literary Printing-Office., 1798. vi, [2], 255, [9] pp.; 16 cm. (12mo)

Gospel Its Own Witness, or, The holy nature, and divine harmony of the Christian religion contrasted with the immorality and absurdity of Deism. Philadelphia: Printed by Charles Cist, 1805. 300 pp.

Gahan, William

(1730-1804)

Youth instructed in the grounds of the Christian religion. With remarks on the writings of Voltaire, Rousseau, T. Paine, &c. intended as an antidote against the contagious doctrines of atheists, materialists, fatalists, deists, modern Arians, Socinians, &c. Dublin, Printed by T. McDonnel, 1798. 184 pp.

The Origin and Principles of the American Revolution, compared with the origin and principles of the French revolution. Philadelphia, 1800. 73 pp.
"There certainly was in America, a Thomas Paine; and I will not deny but that his celebrated work had influence among certain classes of people, and so far contributed to promote the revolution.* But to judge of the spirit and principles of the American revolution by this work, would be as unjust, as to confound the efficaciously active heads in the English revolution, of 1688, with the authors of some popular lampoon against the house of Stewart; or the opposition of lord Chatham, with that of Mr. Wilkes. When Paine's work appeared, in the year 1776, the American revolution had long since assumed its whole form and consistence, and the principles, which will forever characterize it stood firm. In no public resolve, in no public debate, in no state paper of congress, is the most distant expression to be found, which discovers either a formal, or a tacit approbation of a systematical revolutionary policy. And what a contrast between the wild, extravagant, rhapsodical declamation of a Paine, and the mild, moderate, and considerate tone in the speeches and letters of a Washington.
* "The general opinion, and the unanimous testimony of all the known writers upon American affairs, leave scarce room for a doubt of this fact, though for the honour of the Americans I would most willingly call it in question. His "Common Sense," is a pamphlet just as contemptible, almost throughout just as remote from sound human sense, as all the others by which, in later times,he has made himself a name. To appreciate the character and tendency of this work, which, perhaps, has never been judged as it deserves, and to obtain a full conviction that it was solely calculated to make an imprssion upon the mass of the people, and especially upon certain religious sects very extensively spread in America, the reader has only to remark the spirit of the author's favourite arguments, which are all drawn from the Old Testament, and the absurd reasoning, with which he attacks, not the king of England, but monarchy in general, which he treats as an ungodly invention. If such a work could have produced the American revolution, it would have been best for reasonable men to concern themselves no longer with that event. but it was certainly at all times, by the wiser and better men, considered, endured, and perhaps encouraged, only as an instrument to gain over weaker minds to the common cause. ..."
pp. 56-57.

Samuel Greene Arnold. The Life of Patrick Henry of Virginia. Auburn [N.Y.]: Miller, Orton and Mulligan, 1854, [c1845]. 269 pp. Henry's letter to his daughter Betsy on August 20, 1796, p. 250.
"What is there in the wit or wisdom of the present deistical writers or professors that can compare themwith Hume, Shaftsbury, Bolingbroke and others; and yet these have been confuted, and their fame is decaying, insomuch that the puny efforts of Paine are thrown in to prop their tottering fabric, whose foundations cannot stand the test of time."

George Morgan. The True Patrick Henry: With Twenty-four Illustrations. Lippincott, 1907. 492 pages. Original from the New York Public Library.
* In William Meade's "Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia," vol. ii, p. 12, the Rev. Mr. Dresser says that Patrick Henry had " a very great abhorrence of infidelity, and actually wrote a reply to 'Paine's Age of Reason,' but destroyed it before his death." "This," comments Edward Fontaine, "is certainly true. My father, Colonel Patrick H. Fontaine, was the oldest grandson of Patrick Henry. He was living with his grandfather when he wrote the reply to Paine mentioned by Mr. Dresser." But Patrick Henry, having read Bishop Watson's "Apology for the Bible," and deeming it a sufficient answer to Paine, decided not to publish his own manuscript."--p. 366 n.

Letters addressed to the inhabitants of Cork : In defence of revealed religion, occasioned by the circulation of Mr. Paine's Age of reason, in that city. Second edition, with alterations and additions. Cork: printed for the author, at Haly's office; and London sold by Messrs. J. Johnson, and Richard White, 1796. Description: vi,[2],112 pp., 8 vo.

Observations in Answer to Mr. Thomas Paine's "Age of reason." Dublin: printed for G. Folingsby,
1795. [4], 93,[1] pp. Jackson, a journalist and spy, wrote his response to Paine between his arrest and his trial for the crime of high treason against Britain. An entry in the Oxford biographies: Due to his age the jury recommended mercy but Jackson committed suicide before his sentence was passed, dramatically collapsing in the dock of the court of king's bench from arsenic poisoning as his counsel addressed the court on 30 April 1795. He is supposed to have taken his own life in order to protect a small pension for his second wife, with whom he had had two daughters. Taylor called him 'a very gallent man, and much favoured by the ladies' (Taylor, 2.325).

Jay, John

(1745-1829)

John Jay, an author of the Federalist Papers and the original Chief-Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, was comforted by the fact that Christianity would prevail despite Paine's attack,"I have long been of the opinion that the evidence of the truth of Christianity requires only to be carefully examined to produce conviction in candid minds." William Jay, The Life of John Jay (New York: J. & J. Harper, 1833) Vol. II, p. 266, to the Rev. Uzal Ogden on February 14, 1796.
On the disgrace of Paine: "Mr. Deane published a paper in the Philadelphia Gazette, containing strictures on the delays of Congress respecting his affairs, and heavy accusations against Mr. Arthur Lee, to whose machinations he attributed the conduct of Congress towards him. This publication caused a ferment throughout America, and very great heats in Congress. The public papers teemed with publications for and against Mr. Deane and Mr. Lee. Among the writers for the latter was a Thomas Paine, an Englishman, who had been a hackney writer in London, and on his arrival in America was employed by Aikin in compiling and correcting papers for his Magazine. In this capacity his attachment to the American cause became suspected. He struck out several passages in papers composed by Dr. Witherspoon, as being too free. He afterward became attached to some leading men who were most zealous for American independence. He published a pamphlet on that subject, called Common Sense, and obtained much credit with the people for it. He was afterward made secretary to the Committee for Foreign Affairs; and when General Washington was retreating before the enemy in Jersey, and the minds of many were filled with apprehensions, he was again so suspected as that Congress became uneasy lest the committee's papers in his custody should fall into the enemy's hands, and took their measures accordingly. The success at Trenton gave things a new aspect, and new courage to Paine."
"On the present occasion his zeal for his employers carried him too far. The official papers had brought him acquainted with the state of American affairs at Versailles; and in his paper of the 2d January he very imprudently inserted the following paragraph:—' If Mr. Deane, or any other gentleman, will procure an order from Congress to inspect an account in my office, or any of Mr. Deane's friends in Congress will take the trouble of coming themselves, I will give him or them my attendance, and show them in a handwriting which Mr. Deane is well acquainted with, that the supplies he so pompously plumes himself upon were promised and engaged, and that as a present, before he even arrived in France,' &c.
"The minister of France, Mr. Gerard, being aware of the consequences which would result from these assertions, and feeling very sensibly how much the honour of France was wounded by a supposition of her having given gratuitous aid to America, contrary to her assurances to Britain, did, on the 5th of January, 1779, present a memorial to Congress referring to this publication, denying the assertions they contained, and representing the propriety of their being disowned by Congress. The day following, the memorial was considered, and various debates, not proper to be specified here, ensued. Paine and the printer were ordered to attend at the bar of the House. The former confessed himself the author, and the latter the publisher of the papers in question. Many motions were made, debated, and rejected before the House adopted the resolutions which finally took place. The subject was interesting to the public, to the House, and particularly to the friends of the parties in difference, as well as Mr. Paine's patrons; and, as is always the case on such occasions, more warmth than prudence took place. The majority, however, were of opinion, that Paine had prostituted his office to party purposes, and therefore ought to be discharged. This did not long remain a secret to him, and to avoid that disgrace he resigned."

The Folly of Reason; Being our perfect and unerring guide, to the knowledge of true religion: In answer to The Age of Reason, or An investigation of true and of fabulous theology. By Thomas Paine, author of works entitled, "Common sense, Rights of man," &c. Printed by Tiebout and O'Brien, for G. Keatinge's book-store, Baltimore, 1794. iv, [1], 6-23, [1] pp.; (12mo)

Kenneday, J.

(1800-1863)

Thomas Paine. From Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, v. 3, February 1847, pp. 150-154. "There are but few persons living who remember to have seen this talented but morally reckless man. The writer is one of that limited number. Though Paine died while I was young, still his personal appearance is perfectly remembered; and as his character was at that time a subject largely engaging the public attention, he was among those objects which make a strong impression on the young mind."

Kennedy, Patrick

(Fl. 18th Century)

An Answer to Mr. Paine’s letter to Gen. Washington: or Mad Tom convicted of the blackest ingratitude... By P. Kennedy, Esq. London: printed for the author: and sold by Messrs. Rivington; and R. White, 1797.
[4], 55,[1] pp.
"Having developed the inveterate malice, the
subtle cruelty of his character in a series of
wild discussions and dangerous theories, all
tending to the overthrow of general prosperity
and individual happiness in every country,
he has now consummated his guilt, and
given the most evident proofs of the foulness
of his heart, by sacrificing the last little remnant
of imputed patriotism, to a faithless and
cowardly attack on his early benefactor and
friend."

Christian philosophy, or, An attempt to display by internal testimony, the evidence and excellence of revealed religion with an appendix, on Mr. Paines pamphlet, on prayer, etc. 1st American edition, with a translation of all the Greek, Latin, etc. quotations, annexed. Philadelphia: Emmor Kimber, 1804. 336 pp.

A Defence of the Bible in reply to Thomas Paine's Age of reason: compiled from the answers to that book. [Huddersfield]: Printed and sold by J. Brook, Huddersfield; sold also by Scatcherd and Whitaker, London; Wilson and Co. York; Binns and Greenwood, Leeds, &c. &c., 1795. 84 pp.

Levi, David

(1740-1799)

A Defence of the Old Testament in a series of letters, addressed to Thomas Paine, author of a book entitled, "The age of reason, part the second, being an investigation of true and fabulous theology" by David Levi. New York, Naphtali Judah, 1797.

... "As a man, Paine is not a character to be respected. He is intemperate, immoral, and wanting in honesty, gratitude and fidelity.

"Yet this is the character we are called upon by the democratic prints to venerate and admire, and those who refuse the 'homage of the high respects,' are stigmatised with the epithet of 'tories!' We are told of his writings in the revolution, and reminded of the marks of public attention he then experienced. Taking the same ground, the character of Arnold could be equally vindicated, and if it suited their purpose, we should hear those very men who now advocate the cause of Paine, calling our attention to the services of this chieftain. We should be told of the incredible hardships he underwent in traversing the Northern wildernesses, when at the head of the heardy freemen of New-England, he marched to the siege of Quebec--of his gallant conduct in the attack on that fortress--his bravery on the lakes--the wounds and glory he acquired at Saratoga and at Danbury, and of the high sense which congress manifeited of his military conduct, by a public resolve: But of what avail are these now to the name of Arnold?

"Paine has equally forfeited his claim to that reputation which he once acquired. He betrayed the secrets of the committee of Foreign affairs, of which he was appointed Secretary by Congress, and was dismissed with disgrace. In our late disputes with France he joined the enemies of our country, and fully proved he had no place in his affections. Unfortunately for him, his advocates have brought forward a letter of the late General Washington, which they stupidly thought would plead in his favor; but which must inevitably fix, if nothing else had occurred, the seal of everlasting disgrace on the man. In this letter we behold displayed the characteristics of a disposition seeking distress, to alleviate its wants, and offering the hospitality of his table to a hungry wretch, in a stile of benignity and kindness, that needs only to be seen to be admired!--But what return has Pain made for this special act of kindness? He has loaded its author with reproach, tradiced his character, and sported in the imagined ruin of is reputation, with all the savage joy of a malicious Infidel!"

Falsehood Detected: being animadversions on Mr. Paine's Letter to the Honorable Thomas Erskine, on the trial of Thomas Williams, for publishing "The age of reason;" wherein his attacks upon the bible are examined, and shewn to be founded in misrepresentation and falshood. In a letter to a friend. By John Marsom. London: printed for and sold by the author; Mr. Chapman; Mr. Knott; Mr. D. Taylor; and Mr. Hatchard,
1798. 33,[1]pp.

McIlvane, Charles Pettit

(1799-1873)

The Evidences of Christianity; in their external, or historical, division: exhibited in a course of lectures,/ by Charles Pettit McIlvaine. Revised and improved by the author, with the addition of a preface, by Olinthus Gregory. Philadelphia: Smith, English & co., 1861. Text-searchable. 408 pp. PDF version here. HTML online edition here.

(TM): McIlvaine explains that he composed these lectures on the occasion of being invited to give lectures on apologetics in New York. Like Paley and Chalmers, McIlvaine openly acknowledges his debt to Lardner; the sixth lecture gives an excellent thumbnail sketch of some of Lardner’s research. Though McIlvaine did not disparage the internal evidences as Chalmers had, his work focuses exclusively on the “external division” of the evidences—the historical evidence for the authenticity and credibility of the New Testament documents, the evidence for the resurrection, the argument from prophecy, the argument from the propagation of Christianity, and the evidence of the fruits of Christianity in the lives of its genuine disciples.
McIlvaine’s work is notable not only for the thoughtful arrangement of the divisions of the argument but also for his earnest discussion of the duty of all Christians who have the means to study the evidence for their faith and the spirit in which that study should be undertaken.

A History of the people of the United States from the Revolution to the Civil War. Volume 1 of 6. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1884. University of Pittsburgh Digital Research Library. Text-searchable.
We doubt whether any name in our Revolutionary history, not excepting that of Benedict Arnold, is quite so odious as that of Thomas Paine. Arnold was a traitor, Paine was an infidel. Indeed, the terms in which he is commonly described, and the epithets which are commonly heaped upon him, should seem to imply that of all infidels Paine was the blackest, and that since the day when the Age of Reason came forth from the press the number of infidels has increased much more rapidly than it did before that book was written. The truth is, he was one of the most remarkable men of his time. It would be a difficult matter to find anywhere another such compound of baseness and nobleness, of goodness and badness, of greatness and littleness, of so powerful a mind left unbalanced and led astray by the worst of animal passions.
… Of all the human kind he is the filthiest and nastiest, and his disgusting habits grew upon him with his years. In his old age, when the frugal gifts of two States which remembered his good work and placed him beyond immediate want, he became a sight to behold. It was rare that he was sober; it was still rarer that he washed himself, and he suffered his nails to grow till, in the language of one who knew him well, they resembled the claws of birds. What gratitude was he did not know.

M'Neille, Daniel

(Fl. 18th Century)

Dogmatism Exposed, and sophistry detected
, or, a confutation of Paine's "Age of reason." To which is prefixed, a brief account of the replies already published. By Daniel M'Neille, A.M. London: printed for T. Chapman, 1794. 70,[2]pp.

English religious writer. Slavery abolitionist. Read about More here and here

A Country carpenter's confession of faith; with a few plain remarks on The age of reason: in a letter from Will Chip, carpenter, in Somersetshire, to Thomas Pain, stay-maker, in Paris. London: Printed for F. and C. Rivington, 1794. 24 pp.

Morris, Gouverneur

(1752-1816)

American statesman, delegate of Pennsylvania to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and author of large sections of the Constitution of the United States. Read about Morris here, here, and here.
President John Adams on Morris, June 22, 1779. John Adams diary 29, 12 March - 31 July 1779: "In the Evening I fell into Chat with the Chevalier. He asked me, about Governeur Morris. I said it was his Christian Name -- that he was not Governor. The Chevalier said He had heard of him as an able Man. I said he was a young Man, chosen into Congress since I left it. That I had sat some Years with his Elder Brother in Congress. That Governeur was a Man of Wit, of and made pretty Verses -- but of a Character trs legere."

WORKS

The Life of Gouverneur Morris, with selections from his correspondence and miscellaneous papers: detailing events in the American Revolution.

Volume 1 of 3. Boston, 1832. 533 pp.
"Paine was arraigned in presence of the House, and confessed himself to be the author of the offensive communications. After he retired, various resolutions were offered and discussed, the purport of which was, that the declaration in regard to France was false, and that the secretary of the Foreign Committee ought to be immediately dismissed, not only on this ground, but for violating his oath and misusing his trust, in publishing selections from the secret correspondence in his office. Strange as it may seem, this business gave rise to a heated debate, and no decision was had respecting it at the end of the second day. On the morning of the third, Paine sent in his resignation." p. 199.
... "Paine was left undisturbed, till the arrival of Mr. Monroe, who procured his discharge from confinement. For several months he lived in Mr. Monroe's house, but so intemperate were his habits, and disagreeable his person, that it was necessary to exclude him from the family, and send his meals to his own apartments." p. 418. Volume 2 of 3. Boston, 1832. 533 pp.
To Thomas Jefferson, Paris, January 21, 1794: "I cut short these observations, to give you a sketch of the state of parties. Previous to which, however, lest I should forget it, I must mention, that Thomas Paine is in prison, where he amuses himself with publishing a pamphlet against Jesus Christ. I do not recollect whether I mentioned to you, that he would have been executed along with the rest of the Birssotines, if the adverse party had not viewed him with contempt. I incline to think that,if he is quiet in prison, he may have the good luck to be forgotten. Whereas, should he be brought much into notice, the long suspended axe might fall on him." p. 393.
To Thomas Jefferson, Sainport, March 6, 1794: ... "in the best of times, he had a larger share of every other sense than of common sense, and lately the intemperate use of ardent spirits has, I am told, considerably impaired the small stock, which he originally possessed." pp. 408-409. Volume 3 of 3. Boston, 1832. 516 pp.

Paine's Age of reason measured by the standard of truth; Wakefield's examination of, and a layman's answer to, The age of reason, both weighed in the balance, and found wanting. By Michael Nash. London: printed for the author. Sold by J. Mathews; and J. S. Jordan,
1794. iv, 84 pp.

Obituary from New York Evening Post, plus "A Sketch of Paine's character." From Newburyport Herald, vol. XIII, iss. 21, June 16, 1809, page 3 (Third column) and page 4 (First column, 2/3 down page).
"Thomas Paine, who lately died in New-York, is a character of unequivocal and decided stamp, gifted with considerable talents; he employed them in the most nefarious purposes. Completely unprincipled, he was always uniform in conduct, and never deviated into virtue or honor. -- His ends were to destroy fixed principles, and he never was scrupulous about means. He was useful to this country in the revolution, but it was from vanity and accident, not patriotism -- Bold, ardent, restless and intriguing, he never was contented with any measure of wickedness he had reached, but continued till the last in labouring to destroy the best maxims of government and the fairest promises of religion. This man will long remain on record to show the world how much injury can be done by an individual, although destitute and despicable. Infidelity until his time had been shrouded in metaphysical subtleties, which were too abstruse for common intellects; but he gave to the lower order of profance sketches precisely what they wanted -- bold attention, false reasoning and vulgar sarcasm; armed with these, they sapped the foundation of hope and heart in the minds of the ignorant, and destroyed the few good impressions of the timid and wavering." ...

Ogden, Uzal

(1744-1822)

Antidote to deism; The Deist unmasked; or An ample refutation of all the objections of Thomas Paine, against the Christian religion; as contained in a pamphlet, intitled, the age of reason; addressed to the citizens of these states. / By the Reverend Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trinity Church, at Newark, in the state of New-Jersey; To which is prefixed, remarks on Boulanger's Christianity unveiled; And to The deist unmasked, is annexed A short method with the deists. Newark [N.J.]: Printed by John Woods. 1795. 2 volumes; 17 cm. (12mo). Volume 1 of 2; Volume 2 of 2. Response to Paine's Age of Reason.

News. Oracle and Daily Advertiser, Issue 822,382. Tuesday, September 2, 1800.Thomas Paine lately asked permission of the FIRST CONSUL to dedicate to him his celebrated book on "The Rights of Man." BONAPARTE desired, that the English Heretic should be informed that he could hold no communication with the libeller of the great WASHINGTON.

Osborne, J.

(Fl. 18th Century)

Scripture and Reason, a poem: containing various arguments in refutation of Mr Paine's pamphlet entitled The age of reason. By J. Osborne, a blind seaman of South-Shields. Newcastle upon Tyne : printed by S. Hodgson, for the author; sold by the booksellers in Newcastle; G. Baron, mathematician, South-Shields; W. Kelley, North-Shields; and Messrs Robinsons, London, 1795. [2],37,[1] p.

The Dictionary of American Biography says of Paine, "He died in New York on June 8, 1809. There is no evidence of a death-bed repentance, though naturally enough such stories were industriously circulated (Conway, Life, II, 420). Since consecrated ground was closed to the infidel, he was buried in a corner of his farm in New Rochelle. In 1819 William Cobbett [q.v.], to atone for his bitter attacks on Paine in the nineties, had the latter's bones dug up, and took them back to England, intending to raise a great monument to the patriotic author of the Rights of Man. The monument was never erected, and on Cobbett's death in 1835 the bones passed into the hands of a receiver in probate. The court refused to regard them as an asset, and, with the coffin, they were acquired by a furniture dealer in 1844, at which point they are lost to history."

Frank Smith. New Light on Thomas Paine's First Year in America, 1775.
American Literature, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Jan., 1930), pp. 347-371.
Before proceeding to consider on the basis of internal evidence
what else Paine may have written at this time, let us eliminate the contributions to The Pennsylvania Magazine by John Witherspoon and Francis Hopkinson, which have been individually explored. Most of their articles in the magazine are later to be found in their collected works issued under their own direction; and several that are not included may be determined to be theirs by signature identity. Under the pseudonyms Epaminondas and A.B., they contributed philosophic and belletristic essays well within the limits of conventional thought and expression, far away from the concentrated challenge which is most characteristic of Paine even at this period. p. 355.

"Aitkin offered to employ him as the editor of a new journal he was planning, the Pennsylvania Magazine, for an annual salary of £50. Aitkin proposed to leave the detailed editorial work to Paine while retaining the right to control the policy and content of the magazine. Paine's contributions have been much disputed as none appears under his name and various pen names were used, but he wrote between seventeen and twenty-six pieces for it over the following eighteen months, including an essay against slavery which brought him an introduction to Benjamin Rush, and pieces on the deaths of Wolfe and Clive which raised issues of British colonial policy that were highly pertinent given the growing tensions between Britain and her American colonies."
--Mark Philp, ‘Paine, Thomas (1737–1809)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2008.

Letter to George Washington, president of the United States of America
On affairs public and private. By Thomas Paine, author of the works entitled, Common sense, Rights of man, Age of reason, &c.. Philadelphia: Printed by Benj. Franklin Bache, no. 112 Market Street, 1796. [2], 76, [2] pp.
"I declare myself opposed to several matters in the constitution, particularly to the manner in which what is called the executive is formed, and to the long duration of the senate; and if I live to return to America, I will use all my endeavours to have them altered. I also declare myself opposed to almost the whole of your administration ; for I know it to have been deceitful, if not perfidious, as I shall shew in the course of this letter."
... "If there is sense enough left in the heart, to call a blush into the cheek, the Washington administration must be ashamed to appear. And as to you, Sir, treacherous in private friendship (for so you have been to me, and that in the day of danger) and a hypocrite in public life, the world will be puzzled to decide, whether you are an APOSTATE, or an IMPOSTOR?— Whether you have abandoned good principles, or whether you ever had any?"

"His sense of the increasing betrayal of France by the American administration, now under his long-standing enemy John Adams, may have driven him to the ultimate form of sedition—an article appeared in Bonneville's newspaper Le Bien Informé in September 1798 advising the government on the best means to conquer America."
--Mark Philp, ‘Paine, Thomas (1737–1809)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2008.

Christianity the True Theology, and only perfect moral system in answer to "The age of reason": with an appendix, in answer to "The examiners examined." Warren (Rhode-Island): Printed by Nathaniel Phillips, 1795. viii, [1], 10-177, [3] pp.; 18 cm. (12mo)

Letters to a young man, part II. Occasioned by Mr. Evanson's treatise on the dissonance of the four generally received Evangelists. By Joseph Priestley. London, 1793. 164 pp.
"...The circumstances of the Christian church, which received these books and transmitted them to us, were such, as there cannot be a doubt with respect to the competency of their evidence; because they were published in the life time of thousands and myriads, who were as competent witnesses of the facts, as the writers themselves; and there cannot be any question of their veracity, unless we suppose they all combined to tell and to propagate a falsehood, to their own prejudice, and merely to impose on all posterity -- which would be a greater miracle, as being more contrary to what we know of human nature, than any thing recorded in these books."

The Rise and Dissolution of the infidel societies in this metropolis; including, the origin of modern deism and atheism, the genius and conduct of those associations, their lecture-rooms, field-meetings, and deputations, from the publication of Paine's Age of Reason till the present period: with general considerations on the influence of infidelity upon society, answering the various objections of deists and atheists, and a postscript upon the present state of democratical politics, remarks upon Professor Robison's late work, &c. &c.London: J. Hatchard, (T.Burton), 1800. vii, 117 pp.; 22 cm.

Repertory

(1804-1811)

Published in Boston, Massachusetts.

Paris, July 30th, 1796. From Repertory, vol. VI, iss. 1, January 3, 1809, page 2. Publication of extracts of Paine's letter to George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson's letters to Paine.

Paine: "I declare myself opposed to several matters in the constitution, particularly to the manner in which, what is called the Executive is formed, and to the long duration of the Senate; and if I live to return to America, I will use my endeavours to have them altered. I also declare myself opposed to almost the WHOLE OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION, for I know it to be deceitful if not persidious, as I shall shew in the course of this letter."

Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration, wrote to his friend and signer of the Constitution John Dickinson that Paine's Age of Reason was "absurd and impious"; Benjamin Rush, Letters of Benjamin Rush, L. H. Butterfield, editor. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1951, Vol. II, p. 770, to John Dickinson on February 16, 1796.

June 8
Thursday. Thomas Paine died at New York. He was the author of "Common Sense," "Rights of Man," "Age of Reason," and many other political and Deistical publications. I knew him well soon after his arrival in America in 1773, at which time he was unfriendly to the claims of America. He wrote his "Common Sense" at my request. I gave it it's name. He possessed a wonderful talent of writing to the tempers and feelings of the public. His compositions though full of original and splendid imagery were always adapted to common capacities. He was intemperate and otherwise debauched in private life. His vanity appeared in everything he did or said. He once said "He was at a loss to know whether he was made for the times or the times made for him." His "Age of Reason" probably perverted more persons from the Christian faith than any book that ever was written for the same purpose. Its extensive mischief was owing to the popular, perspicuous and witty style in which it was written and to its constant appeals to the feelings and tempers of his readers.

The Scientific Magazine, and Freemasons' Repository

(1747-1821)

London [England]: printed and published by George Cawthorn, British Library, No. 132, Strand; and sold by Symonds, Paternoster-Row; and may be had of all the booksellers and newscarriers in town and country. Monthly.

The Force of Truth, an authentic narrative; to which is added, A vindication of the divine inspiration of the holy scriptures, and of the doctrines contained in them. Carlisle [Pa.]: Printed by George Kline, 1810. 87, 139 pp.

(9) "Reasonable deists cannot but become Christians, where the gospel shines." These several passages of the sacred writings account sufficiently for the infidelity of our several deistical writers. Bolingbroke, Voltaire, Gibbon, Paine, and most others, of whom I have had knowledge, seem to have been destitute of the proper state of mind for the investigation of religious truth.

"From several conversations, which it has been my chance to have with unbelievers, I have learned, that ignorance of the nature of our religion, and a disinclination to study both it and its evidence, are to be reckoned among the chief causes of infidelity."

Age of Reason Unreasonable; or, The folly of rejecting revealed religion. In a series of letters to a friend. Philadelphia: Published by William Cobbett, opposite Christ Church., 1798. 213, [3] pp.; 19 cm. (12mo)

Stilwell, Samuel

(1763-1848)

Guide to Reason or An examination of Thomas Paine's Age of reason, and investigation of true and fabulous theology. New-York: Printed by John Buel--for the author., 1794. 28 pp.

American jurist, author, and politician from Windham, Connecticut. Author of the first legal text in the United States, A System of the Laws of the State of Connecticut, Windham: John Byrne, 1795. Read about Swifthere and here.

WORKS

A System of the laws of the state of Connecticut: In six books. Extract from Volume 2. Windham, 1795-1796. 493 pp. 2 volumes.
"To prohibit the open, public, and explicit denial of the popular religion of a country, is a necessary measure to preserve the tranquility of a government. Of this no person in a Christian country can complain, for admitting him to be an infidel, he must acknowledge, that no benefit can be derived from the subversion of a religion which enforces the best system of morality, and inculcates the divine doctrine of doing, justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. In this view of the subject, we cannot sufficiently reprobate the baseness of Thomas Paine, in his attack on Christianity, by publishing his Age of Reason. While experiencing in a prison, the fruits of his visionary theories of government, he undertakes to disturb the world by his religious opinions. He has the impudence and effrontery, to address to the citizens of the United States of America, a paltry performance, which is intended to shake their faith in the religion of their fathers; a religion, which, while it inculcates the practice of moral virtue, contributes to smooth the thorny road of this life, by opening the prospect of a future and better; and all this he does not to make them happier, or to introduce a better religion, but to imbitter their days by the cheerless and dreary visions of unbelief. No language can describe the wickedness of the man, who will attempt to subvert a religion, which is a source of comfort and consolation to its votaries, merely for the purpose of eradicating all sentiments of religion." Quote from Vol. II, pp. 323-324. Extract here.

Negotiation with France!. From Eastern Herald, published as The Eastern Herald and Gazette of Maine, v. 15, December 30, 1799, p. 1. Documents submitted to Congress, by the President of the United States, relative to the mission to France. Copy of a letter dated Paris, 11 Fructidor, 6th year (August 28, 1798) from Mr. Talleyrand, Minister of Exterior Relations, to Mr. Pichon, Secretary of Legation, Hague. Translation. Also published here: Message from the President of the United States, transmitting certain documents on the subjects of the insurrection in Pennsylvania; the renewal of commerce with St. Domingo; and the mission to France. 5th December, 1799. Ordered to lie on the table. (Published by order of the House of Representatives.), pp. 28, 33.
"The two governments ought above all to be attentive to indirect attempts to alienate them still more. Their prudence will secure this object, and I shall cite but one example of it.--You have told Mr. Murray the truth respecting Dr. Logan. But I perceive that on all hands it is attempted to produce a belief in America, that we are negotiating with him -- On the 7th of this month a very insidious paragraph was inferred in the 'Bien Informe.' It is therein intimated that, guided by the citizen Thomas Paine, Dr. Logan has made application to the Executive Directory, in the character of secret agent.--The Doctor has complained bitterly of it to me. He has no need of justifying himself concerning a matter, the falsity of which I know better than any body! But he assured me that having once only met Thom. Paine at the house of a third person, he found him so prejudiced against the United States, and so opinionative with respect to an influence he neither possesses among them and us, that he abstained from converting any more with him. --Moreover to cut short all misunderstanding, I engaged Dr. Logan to postpone till another time the experiments he proposes to make on agriculture and to return home."

The Brush of Sound Reason, applyed to the cobweb of infidelity, or, Thomas Paine's reason proved false, in few words
being a brief reply to The age of reason, part 2d. In a letter to a deist.
Chambersburg [Pa.]: Printed by Dover & Harper, 1796. 24 pp.; 19 cm. (12mo)

Founder of the American Antiquarian Society. Publisher of Massachusetts Spy, or, Worcester Gazette. Published in Worcester, Massachusetts; Vol. 17, no. 783 (Apr. 3, 1788)-v. 39, no. 1957 (Oct. 10, 1810).
The first time the Declaration of Independence was read in Massachusetts was
at Worcester by Isaiah Thomas, Esq., who ... participated in the late celebration. It was read from the top of the Portico of the S. Meeting-house "New England Palladium," Boston, July 7, 1826. A bronze tablet in front of the City Hall now marks this spot.
Read about Thomas here.

"The conduct of Thomas Paine deserves particular notice. He lives in the house of a journalist of note, who is usually the first to publish whatever appears hostile to our country. It was in the paper of this journalist, that the President's last speech to Congress appeared, but wholly mutilated and altered, in such a manner, by additions and omissions, as to excite the indignation of the French and their government. The journalist complained that he could not insert the entire speech; yet he found room to insert at length, in French and English, a vapid mixture of prose and verse, written by Mr. Edward Church, formerly of Boston, as a satire upon the President of the United States. About three days before I left Paris, the same paper (see Bien Informe, of about the 17th or 18th of March) contained a paragraph of a letter from this country, beginning with these words--"The French party in the United States increases more and more."

Divine Authority of the Bible, or, Revelation and reason, opposed to sophistry and ridicule being a refutation of Paine's Age of reason. 1st American ed. Boston: Ephraim C. Beals, 1807. 151, [1] pp.; 18 cm.

The True Briton

(1793-1803)

Published in London, England.

News. The True Briton, issue 1009. Monday, March 21, 1796. 3rd column, middle.
"We admire the talents and learning of the Bishop of LANDAFF, but we cannot but think that in his late publication he has committed two gross errors--First, in addressing his work to so contemptible a being as THOMAS PAINE; and secondly, in the choice of a title, An apology for the Christian Religion is surely an improper expression, as apology invariably implies a something which is not perfectly right, and which therefore requires some kind of excuse--Nor is the expression, we apprehend, to be justified by the practise of the early writers on Christianity, who made use of the word [apologia]; for that term evidently signifies a defence, and is by no means synonimous with the English word Apology.--Besides the cases are not at all similar; an expression which might be expedient and proper, at a time when but a very small part of mankind had adopted the Creed of Christianity, whould now, for obvious reasons, be extremely improper and unbecoming.--HIS MAJESTY, we understand, when the Work was presented to him, expressed his surprize at the Title."

Turner, Daniel

(1710-1798)

Common Sense; or, The plain man's answer to the question, whether Christianity be a religion worthy of our choice in this age of reason? London, 30 pp. 20 cm. Responsibility: By Philalethes.

Tyler, Royall

(1757-1826)

Algerine Captive, or, The life and adventures of Doctor Updike Underhill [pseud.]
six years a prisoner among the Algerines, Vol. 1 of 2. Walpole, N.H. : D. Carlisle, 1797.

Thomas Paine resembled the great apostle to
the Gentiles, not more in his zeal and subtlety
of argument, than in personal appearance; for,
like that fervid apostle, his bodily presence was
both mean and contemptible. When I saw him,
he was dressed in a snuff-coulored coat, olive
velvet vest, drab breeches, coarse hose. His shoe-
buckles of the size of half a dollar. A bob-tailed
wig covered that head which worked such mickle
woe to courts and kings. If I should attempt to
describe it, it would be in the same syle and prin
ciple with which the veteran soldier bepraiseth an
old standard the more tattered, the more glorious.
It is probable that this was the same identical wig
under the shadow of whose curls he wrote "Common Sense" in America many years before. He was a spare man, rather under size, subject to the
extreme of low and highly exhilirated spirits, often
sat reserved in company, and seldom mingled in
common chit-chat. But when a man of sense
and elocution was present, and the company numerous, he delighted in advancing the most unaccountable and often the most whimsical paradoxes, which he defended in his own plausible manner. If encouraged by success, or the applause of the company, his countenance was animated
with an expression of feature, which, on ordinary
occasions, one would look for in vain in a man so
much celebrated for acuteness of thought; but if
interrupted by extraneons observation, by the in
attention of his auditory, or, in an irritable moment, even by the accidental fall of the poker, he would retire into himself, and no persuasions could
induce him to proceed upon the most favourite topic.

... Curious Argument between Thomas Paine and
the noted Peter Pindar Peter seiteth a Wit-
noose, and catcheth Thomas in one of his own
Logic Traps.

I HEARD Thomas Paine once assert, in the pre
sence of Dr. Walcot, better known in this country, by the facetious name of Peter Pindar, that the minority, in all deliberative bodies, ought
in all cases to govern the majority. Peter smiled,
"You must grant me," said Un-common Sense,
"that tne proportion of men of sense, to the ignorant among mankind, is at least as twenty, thirty,
or even forty-nine, to a hundred. The majority
of mankind are consequently most prone to error;
and, if we would achieve right, the minority ought
in all cases to govern." Peter continued to smile
archly. "If we look to experience," continued
Paine, "for there are no conclusions I more prize
than those drawn, not from speculation, but plain
matter of fact, we shall find an examination into
the debates of all deliberative bodies in our favour.
To proceed no farther than your country, Dr.
Walcot--I love to look at home--suppose the resolutions of the houses of lords and commons had
been determined by this salutary rule; Why, the
sensible minority would have governed--George
Washington would have been a private citizen,
and the United States of Amercia mere colonies
dependent on the British crown. As a patriotic
Englishman, will you not confess, that this would
have been better than to have these United States
independent, with the illustrious Washington at
their head, by their wisdom confounding the juggling efforts of your ministry to embroil them; and
to have the comfortable prospect before you, that,
from the extent of their territory, their maritime re
source, their natural increase, the asylum they
offer to emigrants--in the course of two centuries,
Scotland and Ireland, if the United States have
not too much real pride to attempt it, may be reduced to the same dependence upon them as your West-India islands now have upon you; and ev
en England, haughty England! thrown in as a make-weight in the future treaty between them and the French nation?" Peter, who had listened with
great seeming attention, now mildly replied. "I
will not say but that your arguments are cogent,
though not entirely convincing. As it is a subject
rather out of my line, I will, for form sake, hold
the negative of your proposition, and leave it to
the good company which is right." " Agreed;"
said Paine, who saw himself surrounded by his admirers. "Well, gentlemen," said Peter, with all the gravity of a speaker of the house of commons, "you that are of the opinion that the minority, in all deliberative bodies, ought in all cases to govern the majority, please to rise in the
affirmative." Paine immediately stood up himself, and, as he had foreseen, we all rose in his favour. " Then I rise in the negative," cried Peter. " I am the wise minority, who ought in all cases to govern your ignorant majority; and, consequently, upon your own principles I carry the
vote. Let it be recorded."

This unexpected manoeuvre raised a hearty laugh. Paine retired from the presence of triumphant wit, mortified with being foiled at his
own weapon.

Wakefield is said to be a Unitarian. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography calls him a biblical scholar and religious controversialist who was employed as a rector and then a vicar, then a fellow of Jesus College of Cambridge: Wakefield spent the years of his fellowship dedicated to biblical studies, acquiring several oriental languages as he did so. In 1778 he was ordained deacon, in spite of growing doubts about matters of doctrine and scruples about the practice of subscription to the Thirty-Nine Articles (several Jesuans, including Tyrwhitt, had recently resigned their fellowships over this practice). It was, he later wrote, ‘the most disingenuous action of my whole life; utterly incapable of palliation or apology’ (Memoirs of the Life, 1.121). His clerical life lasted just over a year: he served as curate in Stockport, Cheshire, under a Mr Watson, then successively at St Peter's and St Paul's in Liverpool, all the while hoping to find employment as a schoolmaster. In Liverpool he crusaded against the slave trade and British privateering, and denounced both practices from the pulpit, angering many parishioners.

An Examination of the Age of Reason, or, an investigation of true and fabulous theology, by Thomas Paine. Boston: Printed for and sold by David West, no. 36, Marlborough-Street., 1794. 36 pp. ; 20 cm.

A Reply to Thomas Paine's second part of The age of reason. London, Printed for H.D. Symonds, 1795. viii, 60 pp. 23 cm. Note(s): With Priestley, Joseph. An answer to Mr. Paine's Age of reason. London, D. MCC. XCV./ Wakefield had already replied to the first part of Paine's work in "An Examination of The age of reason", London, 1794.

Reviews of the Second Part of The Age of Reason, pp. 16-21; 118-122 (by Gilbert Wakefield); a Layman's review of Age of Reason, p. 148; a Layman's review of Age of Reason, p. 148; pp. 233-237, 326-331. Walker's hibernian magazine, or, Compendium of entertaining knowledge for the year 1796. Part One.

Wallace, Elijah

(Fl. 18th Century)

Universal Alarm; or age of restoration. Wherein theology is unmasked, ... Being a final answer to Mr. Thomas Paine's Age of reason, ... Vol. I By Elijah Wallace. Dublin: printed for the author,
1798. [7],x-xvii,[1], 324 pp.

Wallis, James

(1762-1819)

Pastor of the church in New-Providence, in Mecklenburg County, North-Carolina.

The Bible Defended being an investigation of the misrepresentations and falsehoods of Thomas Paine's Age of reason, part the second: wherein also, the evidences of revealed religion are stated, and the authenticity and Divine authority of the several books of the Bible are vindicated. Halifax, N.C.: Printed by Abraham Hodge, 1797. vii, [2], 10-115, [1] pp.; 19 cm.

... His celebrity might have been longer maintained, and his name have been handed down with applause, had he not afterwards have left the line of politics, and presumed to touch on theological subjects of which he was grossly ignorant, as well as totally indifferent to every religious observance as an individual, and in some instances his morals were censured.

Persecuted in England he repaired to France, some time before monarchy was subverted in that nation. There, after listening to the indigested rant of infidels of antecedent date, and learning by rote the jargon of the modern French literati, who zealously laboured in the field of scepticism, he attempted to undermine the sublime doctrines of the gospel, and annihilate the Christian system. * Here he betrayed his weakness and want of principle, in blasphemous scurrilities and impious raillery, that at once sunk his character, and disgusted every rational and sober mind.

It is no apology that this was done at a period, when all principle seemed to lie prostrate beneath the confusions and despotism of the Robespierrian reign. It is true, this insignificant theologian, who affected to hold in contempt all religion, or any expectations of a future state, was at this time trembling under the terrors of the guillotine; and while imprisoned, he endeavoured to ingratiate himself [407] into the favor of the ruling faction of France, by levelling his sarcastic pen against opinions that had been for ages held sacred among mankind.

The effusions of infidelity, entitled the Age of Reason, would not have been thought worthy of a serious refutation, had not much industry been employed, to disseminate this worthless pamphlet among the common classes of mankind. The young, the ignorant, the superficial and licentious, pleased with the attempt to let loose the wild passions of men by removing so efficient a guard as is contained in the sacred scriptures, this pernicious work was by them fought for, and read with avidity. This consideration drew out the pens of men of character and ability, to antidote the poison of licentious wit.

No one had more merit in the effort than the learned, pious, and excellent Dr. Richard Watson, bishop of Landass. His works have always been read with pleasure and applause, by every man of genius, virtue, and taste, in whatever branch of literature he drew his pen. His observations on the writings of Paine, his letters to Mr. Gibbon, with a concluding address to young gentlemen, will be read with delight and improvement by every person who adores the benignity of divine government, long after the writings of infidels of talent and ingenuity are sunk into oblivion.

Men of discernment are ever better pleased with truth, in its most simple garb, than with the sophisticated, though elegant style of wit and raillery, decorated for deception; and the name of Voltaire, with other wits and philosophers of the same description will be forgotten, and even the celebrated Gibbon will cease to be admired by the real friends of the Christian dispensation, while its defenders will be held in veneration to the latest ages.

The lovers of liberty on reasonable and just principles, were exceedingly hurt, that a man so capable as was Mr. [408] Paine, of exhibiting political truth in a pleasing garb, and defending the rights of man with eloquence and precision, should prostitute his talents to ridicule divine revelation, and destroy the brightest hopes of a rational and immortal agent.

Mr. Paine out-lived the storms of revolution both in America and in France, and he may yet add one instance more of the versatility of human events, by out-living his own false opinions and foolish attempts to break down the barriers of religion, and we wish he may by his own pen, endeavour to antidote some part of the poisons he has spread.

* The infidel has shot his bolts away,
Till his exhausted quiver yielding none,
He gleans the blunted shafts that have recoiled,
And aims them at the shield of truth again.
--Cowper

Watson, Richard

(1737-1816)

Watson was bishop of Llandaff and served in numerous academic posts. The Oxford biography says of him: "A student of mathematics before he turned his hand to chemistry, Watson came fresh to the study of religion on his appointment as regius professor of divinity in 1771. He then applied himself not to theology or patristics but to biblical study of the New Testament....In his six volumes of Theological Tracts (1785), which reprinted twenty-four extracts from nineteen writers for 'young persons of every denomination' (1.v), he included works by a number of dissenters, even some Unitarians, insisting that he 'did not at all consider the quarter from whence the matter was taken, but whether it was good, and suited to my purpose' (1.xix). His aim was to establish the truth of Christianity and defend his young readers 'from that contagion of Infidelity which is the disgrace of the age' (1.ix); his target was deists not dissenters...Twice in his career he came forward as a defender of the Christian faith: in 1776 his Apology for Christianity addressed Gibbon's sceptical account of the growth of Christianity in Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; twenty years later his Apology for the Bible (1796) responded to the second part of Thomas Paine's deist Age of Reason, published in 1795. While his rejoinder to Gibbon was relaxed and courteous that to Paine was urgent and anxious; the debate was no longer an intellectual exercise but a crucial defence of the political and social order."

An Apology for the Bible: in a series of letters, addressed to Thomas Paine, author of a book entitled, "The age of reason, part the second, being an investigation of true and fabulous theology. / By R. Watson, D.D. F.R.S. Lord Bishop of Landaff, and Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge Published/distributed: Re-printed at Lichfield [sic] [Conn.],: by T. Collier., 1797. 230, [2] pp.; 16 cm. (8vo) -- Reply to second part.

The Age of Infidelity, In answer to the second part of the Age of reason: With some additional remarks upon the former. Philadelphia: Printed by Lang & Ustick, and sold at no. 79, North Third Street, and by the Booksellers, 1796. Part 1, 71 pp.

Since Mr. P.'s enlargement he has feen several Answers to the former part of The Age of Reason—"written, some in America and some in England,"—and it has happened, that all of them" have been written by Priests." A capital crime this! that men who have devoted their lives to the service of Chriftianity, should defend it!—-Were the laws of England to be attacked, where should we look for vindicators, but to the Professors of the Law? Or were some ignorant desperado to attack the Science of Medicine, to whom should we look for its defence fo naturally as to Medical Professors?

The Age of Credulity; A Letter to Nathaniel Brassey Halhed, Esq. M.P. in answer to his testimony in favour of Richard Brothers. With an appendix, in vindication of the Scripture prophecies. Philadelphia: Printed by Lang & Ustick, for Thomas Ustick, no. 79, North Third Street., 1796. 45pp.; 22 cm. (8vo)

Wilmer, James Jones

(1750-1814)

A Consolation, being a replication to Thomas Paine, and others, on theologics. Philadelphia: Printed for the author, by William W. Woodward, Franklin's Head, no. 36, Chesnut-Street, south side., 1794. 80 pp.; 21 cm. (8vo) Dedicated to George Washington.

Wilson, David

(1751-1797)

Answer to Payne's Age of Reason, With a short view of the obedience which Christians are bound to yield to the powers that be. Perth: printed by R. Morison Junior. For R. Morison & Son, Perth; John Ogle, Edinburgh; Robert Hutchinson, Glasgow; Edward Leslie, Dundee, and Vernor & Hood, London, 1796. 123,[1] pp.

Winchester, Elhanan

(1751-1797)

Minister. Read about Winchester here. There are some claims, which we so far doubt, that Winchester was a Unitarian; he also seems to have been a Universalist.

A Defence of Revelation, in ten letters to Thomas Paine; being an answer to his first part of The age of reason. [London]: First printed at New-York: London: re-printed for the editor, by T. Gillet, and sold by T. A. Teulon; Button; Symonds; Marsom; N. Scarlett, Vidler, Battle, Sussex; and at the vestry of Parliament-Court Chapel, 1796. [2], viii, 113,[1] pp.

The Divinity of Christ, proved from the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. In several letters to a friend.[Philadelphia: Printed by Benjamin Towne, 1784. 38 pp.; 20 cm. (8vo)

The Works of the Reverend John Witherspoon. Philadelphia: William W. Woodward, 1802, Vol. III, p. 24, note 2, from "The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men," delivered at Princeton on May 17, 1776. John Witherspoon said that Paine was "ignorant of human nature as well as an enemy to the Christian faith."

The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Man. A Sermon, preached at Princeton, on the 17th of May, 1776. To which is added, an address to the natives of Scotland, residing in America. By John Witherspoon. The second edition, with elucidating remarks. [Glasgow]: Philadelphia, printed: Glasgow re-printed; sold by the booksellers in town and country, 1777. 54 pp.; 80. Text-searchable here.

I cannot help embracing this opportunity of making a remark or two upon a virulent reflection thrown out against this doctrine, in a well known pamphlet, Common Sense. The author of that work expresses himself thus: 'If the first king of any country was by election, that likewise establishes a precedent for the next; for to say, that the right of all future generations is taken away, by the act of the first electors, in their choice not only of a king, but of a family of kings forever, hath no parallel in or out of scripture, but the doctrine of original sin, which supposes the free will of all men lost in Adam; and from such comparison, and it will admit of no other, hereditary succession can derive no glory. For as in Adam all sinned, and as in the first electors all men obeyed: as in the one all mankind were subjected to Satan, and in the other to sovereignty; as our innocence was lost in the first, and our authority in the last; and as both disable us from re-assuming some former state and privilege, it unanswerably follows that original sin and hereditary succession are parallels. Dishonorable rank! Inglorious connexion! Yet the most subtle sophist cannot produce a juster simile.'†

†Common Sense, page 11. Bradford’s Edition.

Without the shadow of reasoning, he is pleased to represent the doctrine of original sin as an object of contempt or abhorrence. I beg leave to demur a little to the candor, the prudence, and the justice of this proceeding.

1. Was it modest or candid for a person without name or character, to talk in this supercilious manner of a doctrine that has been espoused and defended by many of the greatest and best men that the world ever saw, and makes an essential part of the established creeds and confessions of all the Protestant churches without exception? I thought the grand modern plea had been freedom of sentiment, and charitable thoughts of one another. Are so many of us, then, beyond the reach of this gentleman’s charity? I do assure him that such presumption and self-confidence are no recommendation to me, either of his character or sentiments.

2. Was it prudent, when he was pleading a public cause, to speak in such approbious terms of a doctrine, which he knew, or ought to have known, was believed and professed by, I suppose, a great majority of very different denominations. Is this gentleman ignorant of human nature, as well as an enemy to the Christian faith? Are men so little tenacious of their religious sentiments, whether true or false? The prophet thought otherwise, who said, Hath a nation changed their gods which yet are no gods? Was it the way to obtain the favor of the public, to despise what they hold sacred? Or shall we suppose this author so astonishingly ignorant, as to think that all men now, whose favor is worth asking, have given up the doctrine of the New Testament? If he does, he is greatly mistaken.

3. In fine, I ask, where was the justice of this proceeding? Is there so little to be said for the doctrine of original sin, that it is not to be refuted, but despised? Is the state of the world such, as to render this doctrine not only false, but incredible? Has the fruit been of such a quality as to exclude all doubts of the goodness of the tree? On the contrary, I cannot help being of opinion, that such has been the visible state of the world in every age, as cannot be accounted for on any other principles than what we learn from the word of God, that the imagination of the heart of man is only evil from his youth, and that continually. Gen. vi. 5.–viii. 21.

William Jay. The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers. J. & J. Harper, 1833.
"Mr. Deane published a paper in the Philadelphia Gazette, containing strictures on the delays of Congress respecting his affairs, and heavy accusations against Mr. Arthur Lee, to whose machinations he attributed the conduct of Congress towards him. This publication caused a ferment throughout America, and very great heats in Congress. The public papers teemed with publications for and against Mr. Deane and Mr. Lee. Among the writers for the latter was a Thomas Paine, an Englishman, who had been a hackney writer in London, and on his arrival in America was employed by Aikin in compiling and correcting papers for his Magazine. In this capacity his attachment to the American cause became suspected. He struck out several passages in papers composed by Dr. Witherspoon, as being too free. He afterward became attached to some leading men who were most zealous for American independence."--p 97.

John Adams. The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. Boston, 1850-1856. 553 pp. Vol. 2 of 10. Autobiography.

The third part of Common Sense, which relates wholly to the question of independence, was clearly written, and contained a tolerable summary of the arguments which I had been repeating again and again in Congress for nine months. But I am bold to say there is not a fact nor a reason stated in it, which had not been frequently urged in Congress. The temper and wishes of the people supplied every thing at that time; and the phrases, suitable for an emigrant from Newgate, or one who had chiefly associated with such company, such as, "The Royal Brute of England," "The blood upon his soul," and a few others of equal delicacy, had as much weight with the people as his arguments. It has been a general opinion that this pamphlet was of great importance in the Revolution. I doubted it at the time, and have doubted it to this day. It probably converted some to the doctrine of independence, and gave others an excuse for declaring in favor of it. But these would all have followed Congress with zeal; and on the other hand it excited many writers against it, particularly "Plain Truth," who contributed very largely to fortify and inflame the party against independence, and finally lost us the Allens, Penns, and many other persons of weight in the community.

Notwithstanding these doubts, I felt myself obliged to Paine for the pains he had taken, and for his good intentions to serve us, which I then had no doubt of. I saw he had a capacity and a ready pen; and, understanding he was poor and destitute, I thought we might put him into some employment where he might be useful and earn a living. Congress appointed a Committee of Foreign Affairs, not long after, and they wanted a clerk. I nominated Thomas Paine, supposing him a ready writer and an industrious man. Dr. Witherspoon, the President of New Jersey College, and then a delegate from that State, rose and objected to it with an earnestness that surprised me. The Doctor said he would give his reasons; he knew the man and his communication; when he first came over, he was on the other side, and had written pieces against the American cause; that he had afterwards been employed by his friend, Robert Aitkin, and finding the tide of popularity run rapidly, he had turned about; that he was very intemperate, and could not write until he had quickened his thoughts with large draughts of rum and water; that he was, in short, a bad character, and not fit to be placed in such a situation. General Roberdeau spoke in his favor; no one confirmed Witherspoon’s account, though the truth of it has since been sufficiently established. Congress appointed him; but he was soon obnoxious by his manners, and dismissed.

There was one circumstance in his conversation with me about the pamphlets, which I could not account for. He was extremely earnest to convince me that "Common Sense" was his first born; declared again and again that he had never written a line nor a word that had been printed, before "Common Sense." I cared nothing for this, and said nothing; but Dr. Witherspoon’s account of his writing against us, brought doubts into my mind of his veracity, which the subsequent histories of his writings and publications in England, when he was in the custom-house, did not remove. At this day it would be ridiculous to ask any questions about Tom Paine’s veracity, integrity, or any other virtue.

Wyche, William

(Fl. 18th Century)

An Examination of The Examiners Examined,
being a defence of Christianity. Opposed to the Age of reason. New-York: Printed by Wayland and Davis, and sold by L. Wayland, no. 151, Water-Street,
1795. 44, [2] pp.; (12mo)